Letter to the Editor

The New York Times
Published November 12, 2001

To the Editor:

Re "Debate Over Rules for Victims Fund" (front page, Nov. 6):

Neither charitable donations nor pensions should be deducted from victim compensation awards by the federal September 11 Victims Compensation Fund. Pensions are not compensation for a loss. Rather, a pension is a financial asset, much like a savings account or mutual fund investment. The only difference is that pension benefits are paid after retirement or to survivors after death.

The only way it would be equitable to deduct pensions from an award is if regulations stipulate that future lost earnings are calculated to include retirement earnings. The Sept. 11 fund is an unprecedented attempt to help victims of crime rebuild their lives. Every attempt should be made to make the distribution as fair as possible.

Susan Herman
Exec. Director
National Center for Victims of Crime
Washington, Nov. 8, 2001